Several studies on body

language show that from the

point of view of an audience the
single most impactful factor
is the non-verbal
communication of the
presenter. Body language, in
fact ,weighs in at 55% of the
total influence of a presenter.
And so we’d like to share what
we at SOAP have found to be
the 10 Worst Body Language
Presentation Mistakes, to
help you improve your own
physical behavior when you
make presentations.
When you cross your arms, you’re
sending a subtle message that you’re
not open to others and that you feel
threatened. It looks to the audience as
if you’re being defensive. And this is the
exact opposite of the message you want
to get across!
Likewise, crossing your legs when you’re
standing isn’t great either. It betrays
nervousness and a lack of
professionalism – again, things you
don’t want to convey!
When you’re delivering a presentation
you should be facilitating communication.
You should come across as approachable.
And you should look as if you have
confidence in your message.
To achieve this, keep your back straight,
your head high, and your chest and
arms “open.”
Never turn your back on an
audience unless you want to
lose them totally the minute
you do it. Turning your back
tells an audience you
don’t really care about
them – it’s just plain rude.
People need to see your
face, your eyes and your mouth
if they’re going to be able to
engage with you. So if you want
to draw attention to something
on the screen, just turn
sideways and point. A laser
pointer may be a help here.
Avoiding eye contact is
something insecure
people do unconsciously,
to avoid confrontation.
But a presenter needs to
feel secure and confident,
and one way of showing this
is to look people in the eye.
When you look people in
the eye they will in turn
pay more attention to
you and to what you’re
saying because they’ll feel
engaged and a part of your
communication.
Staring at a single spot in the
audience area is never a good
choice. Because people notice
when you’re not looking at
anybody and, just like making
upward eye movements, staring
at a single spot makes you look
like you’re not sure of yourself.
Instead, try to look at various
people in the audience. This
way, audience members will feel
that they matter and they’ll pay
close attention.
If you’re a presenter who stands in the same
place because you’re afraid to trip and fall, you
need to know that the odds on this are really
high! To avoid this fear, wear comfortable
shoes. Stilettos not recommended!
We’ve said it before, but the brain needs
movement to stay alert. And moving in the
space around you when you’re presenting is
a powerful way to keep an audience
attentive. So don’t waste this powerful tool
because you’re afraid of something that
almost never happens.
Although we do advise you to walk in the
space around you, don’t overdo it. If
you’re constantly walking, or if you’re
walking too fast, people will think you’re
nervous and they’ll start to feel nervous
too. Clearly, that’s not your goal!
You should move whenever moving makes
sense and helps to convey a message. For
example, if you’re addressing somebody in the
audience, move to a spot where you’re closer to
that person. If you’re presenting a list of three
different points, talk about point 1 when you’re
at your first position, then take two or three
steps and talk about point 2, and then take two
or three more steps to talk about point 3.
Have you seen the presenter who’s
always making the same gestures,
regardless of the messages being
conveyed? Does that make sense? No,
it doesn’t. Your gestures should serve
to emphasize your messages and
not be a crutch when you don’t know
what to do with your hands.
You should gesture when it makes
sense and when the gesture helps
to convey a message. Otherwise,
gestures are only obstacles to
communication. So try to vary your
gestures as much as you can, but
let them come in a natural way.
Fidgeting means nervousness,
and nervousness is a total
distraction. An audience ends
up focusing on the fidgeting
and not paying attention to
what’s being said, so no
message gets across. Clearly
not what you want!
To avoid fidgeting, make sure you’re
aware of it. Being conscious of your
body and of your body language is
the only way to avoid fidgeting. And
one of the best ways to be aware of
your body language when you’re
presenting is to do a full presentation
rehearsal, preferably with an
audience, and film yourself doing it.
That video will tell you just how much
you fidget under spotlight conditions.
If you don’t smile at your
audience, they’ll probably see
you as earnest but maybe even
severe. So they’ll probably avoid
asking questions. And they’ll
certainly not participate in any
discussion you may want to start.
And your entire presentation will
be compromised.
Smiling is a great way to make
an audience feel comfortable
and willing to listen.
If you speak too fast, people will
have a hard time following. If you
speak too slow or to low, they’ll
probably fall asleep! Either way,
your message will be compromised
and your presentation goal won’t
be reached.
A presenter’s voice is one of his/
her most powerful tools, but the
presenter must know how to use it
wisely. Find the right volume and
tone, emphasize important words
and expressions, and articulate
every syllable. If you do this, people
will understand you and naturally
follow what you’re saying.